6 Signs You Need To Hire a New Real Estate Agent Immediately

There were over 1,200,000 active members of the National Association of Realtors in the U.S. in 2016. There’s no reason you shouldn’t work with the one you are the happiest with.

After all, this person has your money, financial information and more at their fingertips. You need someone you can trust.

Buying or selling a home is one of the most important financial transactions you’ll make in your life.

But it’s certainly not easy finding the perfect agent for you. The process is time-consuming. And references from friends and family might not be all that reliable.

Read on for six signs to watch out for when working with your real estate agent. If you experience any of these or feel at all uncomfortable with your current agent, it may be time to find a new real estate agent.

Have you noticed any one of these six signs?

1. Your Agent Is Bullying You

Has your current real estate agent been pushing you to accept the first offer you get? Have they said something like, “this is the best offer you can expect.”

Maybe they openly criticized your home. Or made you feel that it wasn’t good enough for your asking price. Unless they have data and valid information to back this up, you don’t have to put up with it.

You wouldn’t let your child bully a friend, so don’t let your agent bully you. Move on before you get too far into the process.

2. They Seem Lazy and Sluggish

Real estate is no easy game and your agent should always be up for the challenge.

And don’t forget the little things. A good real estate agent will have plenty of resources for you to use. They might have a new house checklist or home staging ideas that you would never have thought of.

It’s okay to expect these extra perks once in a while.

3. You Haven’t Heard from Them in Weeks

“Hello? Is anybody home?”

You should not be spending your time playing phone tag or leaving voicemails for your real estate agent. If you find your agent is MIA, it’s time to find somebody who is dedicated to your sale or purchase.

Everybody needs a day off and time to spend with their family, including real estate agents. But if you haven’t heard from yours and you’re starting to worry about where you stand, it’s time to move on.

4. They Offer to Cover up Info on Your Behalf

Say your real estate agent hires a professional photographer to help your listing stand out with stunning photos. This is a great tactic many REALTORS® are using!

But your agent starts mentioning the things that will be removed from your pictures with photoshop. It’s one thing to remove a dog house from the backyard. It’s another story when they start removing permanent structures from the property.

For example, if your agent encourages the photographer to remove telephone poles or severe damage to the interior. This is time for you to step in.

Misleading buyers into believing that the property is different than it looks in real life is unethical.

You don’t want to be “that guy.” So speak up and explain to your agent that you won’t allow it. Or consider finding a new real estate agent right away.

5. They Give Price Quotes Without Consulting You First

Uh-oh, your agent has gone rogue!

Your salesperson should discuss prices with you before ever beginning to list, show, or market your property.

Make sure you know exactly what your agent is going to say when a potential buyer asks for the price. If they are unsure and unconfident, you might lose a buyer before they even hear the price.

Likewise, if they’re quoting a different number to every looker and not consulting you first. You’re not going to like that either.

A professional will be confident with their information because they will have discussed it with your first.

6. They Make You Feel Uncomfortable in Any Way

Real estate agents have access to a lot of your personal information including bank statements and much more.

You deserve to work with someone you trust. If you feel at all uncomfortable with your agent, you have every right to find a new real estate agent immediately.

Maybe they just don’t jive with your personality. Your agent might be too aggressive for your liking, or not driven enough. And that’s fine!

You don’t have to justify your feelings.

How to Find the Perfect REALTOR® for You:

If you’ve seen any of these six signs from your agent, it’s time to cut the cord and find someone perfect for you. Here are a few tips on how to find them without the stress.

Analyze their historical transactions.

With so many agents in the U.S., how do you narrow down your search to just a few? How can you possibly find the best of the best for your specific needs?

The most effective way to do this is to analyze their history.

Interview with deal breaker questions.

Once you’ve narrowed your search to a few local agents. Interview them all with the same deal breaker questions.

Find out their “days on market” average. Ask them how many homes they’ve sold in the last year. And quiz them on your local area.

Meet them in person.

If at all possible, interview your potential agents in person. This is the best way to get a feel for how confident they are when answering your questions.

Meeting people in person is also a great way to find out if you feel comfortable with them and if your personalities will communicate well.

Use Online Resources to Find Your New Real Estate Agent

Lucky for us, technology makes it a little easier to find a new real estate agent that’s a perfect fit.